Spring-bearing for bicycles or other vehicles.



No. 696302'. n I Patented'mar. 25, |902.

',F. L. koennen.

SPRING BEARING FOR BIGYCLES 0R OTHEBA'VEHIGLES.

(Application led Feb. 6, 190.2.)

` .5 Sheets-Sheet I.

-UIo Model.)

Y ATTORNEY.

No. 696,|o2. Patented Mar. 25,1902;

y F..L. KoEHLEn.)

SPRING BEARING FUR BIGYVCl-.ES l0R THER VEHICLES.

(Applicxadon.= 'led Feb. 6,`1902.) (No Model.) y Sheets-Sheet 2.

.f .nwir@ T No. 696,102. Patented Mar. 25, |902.y

f. L. Koeman.

`SPRING BEARINGFOR BIGYBLES 0R OTHER VEHICLES. (Application med'reb. s, 1902. y No meel.) I 5 shun-sheet 3.

E m Y ,C7/5%? r C mgm y 5 Shee'is-Shoet 4.

(Application med Feb. e, 19o 2.)

(No Nudel.)

l WITNESSE ATTORNEY 'mk Norms PErzRs cajwofourno. wAsNmm'oN. nA c.

No. 595m. Patented Mar. 25, |902.

' l r. L. Koeman. Y

SPRING BEARING FOB BICYCLES 0R OTHER VEHICLES.

(Application led Feb. .6, 1902.) v

(No Model.)

Y UNITED STATES` PATENT OFFICE.

FRED L. KOEHLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO THOMAS J. DUNNE, OF MARION, SOUTH DAKOTA.

SPRING-BEARING FOR BICYCLESvOR OTHER VEHICLES.

SEECIFICATIQN forming' part of' Letters PatentNo. 696,102, dated March 25, 1902. Application inea February 6.1992. serial N8. 92,399. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t nfl/ty concern;

Be it known that I, FRED L. KOEHLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicycles or other Vehicles, ot' which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to spring-bearings for safety-bicycles and other similar vehicles, and has for its object the production of a vehicle whereinthe weight of the rider is borne on springs, so that the shocks and jars received by the wheels in passing over the inequalities of the road are not imparted to the riders seat and wherein the plane of the axles is always maintained at right angles to the longitudinal vertical plane of the supportingframe of the vehicle. This idea, broadlyto wit, that of providing the frame of'a safetybicycle or similar vehicle with springs-I am aware is not new; but I believe such a vehicle has never been produced wherein a compensating device maintains the drive-chain at a certain uniform tension and at the same time prevents the tilting of the wheel-axles and the consequent wabbling of the wheel with relation to the supporting-frame.

The improvements herein shown and described are intended to be. applied to wheels already in use, as well as by manufacturers tothose being newly built. The springs mentioned may be applied to both front and rear forks of a bicycle or to the rear forks a-lone.

One of the principal difficulties in providing spring-bearings for a bicycle of the common form is that the distance between the crank-shaft and the rear axle varies with the yielding movement of the spring, making the drive-chain sometimes too tight and sometimes too loose. Others have sought to remedy this difficulty by mounting the axle of the rear wheel in guides formed on the arc of `a circle whose center is in the crank-shaft; but this arrangement does not give afree vertical movement of the rear end of the bicycle-frame. It also, in common with almost all spring-bearings, permits one end of the axle to tilt downward, causing the wheel to wabble within its supporting-forks.

In the embodiment herein shown of this invention I provide two helical compressionsprings for each fork end, which springs are interposed between the end ot' the axle and the fork, one to be secured above the axle to carry the weight of the rider, the other to be placed below the axleto cushion the downward movement of the wheels. The compensating device for maintaining an even tension of the chain comprises an eccentric upon which the rear axle is mounted. This eccentric has a crank-arm fixed with relation thereto, which crank-arm has a pivotal connection at a fixed point with the supportingframe. An upward or downward movement of the frame thusmoves the crank-arm and oscillates the eccentric, and this movement of the eccentric moves the rear axle to or from the crank-shaft a sufficient distance to maintain an even tension on the drive-chain. The crank-arm for the eccentric near each end of the rear axle is pivotally mounted with relation to one of the rear forks, from which it will be seenV that both ends of the axle move upward and downward together.

Other improvements will bevmore fully described hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a side elevation of a bicycle-frame embodying the features of' my invention, showing in dotted lines the position ot` the supportingframe after a downward movement of its rear end and the consequent movement of the' compensating mechanism. In this figure the size of the spring-bearing attachments is increased in undue proportion. I have shown them thus for the sake of greater clearness.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my attachment tion on dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 2, while on the right-hand side Fig-.5` shows the spring-bearing in elevation, illustrating the inclosing telescoping spring-easings and showing the mechanism in the foreground on dotted line 3a 3a of Fig. 2. Fig. LLisa viewlooking downward upon the hub of the rear wheel. At the left this figure is on dotted line L 4 of Fig. 2, while on the right it is on dotted line 4a E of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the ec- Ioe p preceding gure.

centric-holding bracket and its integral oppositely-extending spring-casings. Fig. G is a front elevation of the partshown inthe preceding gure. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the eccentric and its integral crank. Fig. S is an edge view of the part shown in the preceding figure. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the bracket for the attachment of the spring mechanism to the front axle. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the front hub of the bicycle, showing the spring-casings at the left of said Fig. 10 in transverse Vertical section on dotted line l0 10 of Fig. 9, and on the right of said Fig. 10 showing the bracket in section on dotted line 10a 10n of Fig. 9, the springcasings being in elevation. Fig. 11 is a plan view of the forward hub of a bicycle embody- "ing my improvements, the lower end of the spring attachment, as shown in this figure, being represented in section on dotted line 11 11 of Fig. 9, the upper end being in section on dotted line 11 11 of Fig. 9. Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the spring-holding bracket intended to be secured to the lower end of each one of the front forks. Fig. 13 is an edge View of the bracket shown in the preceding figure. Fig. 14 is a transverse section through said spring-holding bracket on dotted line 14 14 of Fig. 12. Fig. 15 is a side view of the front-axle bracket with its integral tubular spring-casings. Fig. 16 is a rear side elevation of the bracket shown in the the cylindric stud adapted to be secured to each end of the front axle and its integral crank-arm. Fig. 18 is a side view of said stud and crank-arm. Fig. 19 is a top plan view of thesemitubular portion ofthe springcasing D3. Fig.- 2O is a side view ofsaid semitubular portion as shown in the preceding figure.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.:

As before stated,my improvements as herein embodied are applicable to safety-bicycles, and in the accompanying drawings A is the frame, A' the front forks, A2 the openings in the lower ends of said forks, A3 the rear forks, A4 the elongated chain-adjusting slot in the rear ends of said forks A3, A5 the rear braces, A0 the crank-hanger, A7 the front-wheel hub, A0 the front-wheel axle, flattened on one side at its ends, A9 the rear-wheel hub, A10 the rearwheel axle, also flattened on one side at its ends, and A11 the rear driving-sprocket, all common to the ordinary safety-bicycle.

B represents two eccentrics rigidly mounted on the rear axle A10, at opposite ends thereof, outside of the hub A0, the opening B', extending through said eccentric,having a flattened portion on one side to correspond with the flattened portion on said axle to prevent the axle from turning with relation to the eccentric B. Each ot' the two eccentrics B has an offset crank-arm B2 extending therefrom, and at its outer end this arm is provided with an elongated opening B2. Each of the cecen- Fig. 17 is an edge view ofA tries B has the peripheral screw-threads B1for the reception of a correspondingly-threaded annulus B5. This annulus is provided in its face with depressions B0 for the purpose of locking the adjustment of said annulus with relation to the eccentric B. A washe1B7,having a flattened side in its central opening to tit upon the rear-wheel axleA A10 without turning thereon,- is also provided with a downwardly-projecting lip B8 to enter one of the depressions B0 in the face of the annulus B5, and when the usual nut B0 on the outer end of said rear axle is tightened against said washer the annulus is prevented from turning and the adjustment of the annulus is maintained. It will thus be seen that the eccentrics B and their integral crank-arms B2 are xed with relation to the rear-wheel axle A10, and therefore that said axle will be depressed at both ends alike, and therefore the wheel will not tip or wabble in the frame.

C is a bracket located at each end of the axle A10, provided with a central opening C for the reception of the eccentric B. At itsy forward edge this bracket has the vertical groove C2, and in said groove is providedwith the bearing-rollers C3, the purpose of which rollers will be later mentioned herein. The upper end of the bracket C has the tubular spring-casing C4 and at its lower side a similar casing C5. The casing C5 is not in direct alinernent with the casing C, the former being inclined slightly forward from theaxal line ot' said casing C4.

D is a vertical yoke for each bracket C, having the central web portion D', the rear edge of which web is adapted to lie within the vertical groove C2 of the bracket C and slide upward and downward therein, bearing upon the rollers C3. The yoke also has the oppositely-extending tubular caps D2 and D3 for surrounding and telescoping the tubular casings C4 and C5, respectively. The cap D2 is formed integral with the yoke D, excepting at its outer end, where it is provided with the screw-threaded closure D1. A central pin D5 is secured within the cap D2, and the lower portion of said cap is provided with an annular groove D0for retaining oil to make a dusttight joint between the telescoping casing C4 and cap D2 and to keep the contacting surfaces lubricated. A helical compressionspring D7 surrounds the pin D5 and lies within the telescoping casing C1 and cap D2. The cap D3 is similar to the cap D2, just described. It is provided with a screw-threaded closure D2, has the central pin D0, and the annular oil-retaining groove D10.

D11 is a helical spring within the telescoping casing C5 and the cap D2. The cap Ds is formed one half integral with the web D'. The other and corresponding half D12, semitubular in shape, is formed separately and secured to the yoke D by the screws D13 passing through perforated ears D14 on said semitubular portion D12. The yoke D near the middle of its web portion D' is provided with IOO IIO

the transverse opening D15, and this opening on the inner face ofthe web D'is surrounded bythe annular bearing-stud D16, formed integral with the web portion D. gated opening B3 in the offset crank-arm B3 of the eccentric B is adapted to receive the bearing-stud D13, the bolt `D1T holding said arm in place on said stud.`

E and E are two clips intended to be fastened to the outer face ofv the -web portion D of each of the yokes D to bear fngainst4 the upper and the lower sides of the rear forks A3 clips E and E by the'bolts D17 passing through the elongated slots A1 of said forks A3.

In fitting the'attachment herein described to a bicycle the rear forks are vbolted to the y yokes D and the position of the clips E and E determined. Holes are then drilled at proper points through the web D' of the yokes D, adapted to receive the screws The clips are then placed in position and the forks held firmly between them by tightening the bolts D17, care heilig taken that the edge of the web D of the yoke D bears firmly against the rollers C3 in the groove G2. y

I have now described lmy spring attachment in its adaptation to the rear wheel of a bicycle. In its application to the. forward wheel the parts are similar throughout, except that since the necessity for compensating for'the lengthening and shortening of the chain is obviated the eccentric B of the rear wheel becomes acylindric centrally-perforated stud in the forward Wheel, the crankarms to rotate said stud, however, being preserved in order that both ends of the axle shall Arise and fall evenly and that the Wheel shall thereby be retained centrally betweenV threaded annulus F5 is likewise provided for the screw-threads F1 on the cylindric stud F, and this annulus has the perforations F5.

F7 is the usual nut at the outer ends of the front-Wheel axle A3, and F3 a Washer having a flattened side to correspond With the similar flattened side of said axle, is provided with adoWnWardly-extending lip F11, intended to enter one of the 'series of perforations'in the face` of the annulus F5. It Will thus be seen that when the annulus F5 is turned to its proper adjustment on the screw-threads The clousuitable openings in the bracket G. The purpose of the groove G2 inthe bracket G, as Well as that/of `the groove C2 in the bracket C, is to prevent sidewise movement of the yokes Hand D, respectively. The edges of the webs of the yokes lie insaid grooves and bearing upon the rollers G` and C' are free to slide vertically in the grooves. 'The rollers C also preventthe pulling of the driving-chain from causing undue strain upon the eccentric'B as the bracket C moves upward and downward upon the springs D7 and D11, giving the yoke a long bearing upon the bracket and promoting a free sliding movement between the bracket and the yoke. f

G4 and G5 are oppositely-extending .tubular spring-casings corresponding in shape and' vposition to the similar casings of the bracket C.

ings Gt1 and G5, respectively, of the bracketv G. -It also has the screw-threaded closures Iland the inwardly-extending ,central pins yH5 for holding the helical springs Hfand H7 in proper place within the telescoping casing G1 and cap H2 and the casing G5 and cap H3,

respectively. The cap H3 comprises the semitubular portion H3, heldin position upon the yoke H by the screws H9. The web H is provided .withA an opening H10, surrounded by the annular bearing-stud H11, and through said opening' the bolt H13 is adapted to extend. The annular bearing-stud is intended to lie within the elongated opening F3 of the Offset crank-arm F2 of the cylindric bearingstud F.

I and I are clips secured to the outer side of the web H of the yoke H and -are intended to hold the front forks A' rigid with'relation to said yokes H, the bolts H13 passing through the usual perforations A3 in the lower end of said forks, holding the forks rigid relative to said yokes.

To lit a safety-bicycle of the usual form with the attachments hereinbefore described, the wheels should first be removed from the frame and an eccentric B placed upon each of the outer ends of the rear axle A10,'and a cylindric stud F upon each of the outer ends of the front axle. Brackets C are placed on the rear axle outside of said eccentrics and the yokes D put in position, the caps D2 and D3tting over the tubular spring-castings C1 and C5, respectively,the springs D7 and D11 being in the casings C1 and C5. The bolts D17 ICO IIO

are then passed through the annulaibearingstud D1G and through the opening D15 in the web D of the yoke D; also, through the usual slotted opening A4 at the rear end of each of the rear forks A3 of the bicycle-frame A. The proper relative position ofthe bracket D is obtained and the clips E and E are fastened to the outer faces of the web portions D of the yoke D, holding thefork end rigid with said yoke. The forward spring-bearing is put in place in the same manner, the bolts H12 passing through the opening H10 and through the perforations at the lower end of the forward forks. The clips I and I1 are secured in position and the bolts H12 tightened upon the forks A. The weight of the rider resting upon the saddle of the bicycle presses downward upon the helical compressionsprings D7 and HG at the rear and forward bearings of the bicycle, respectively. Upward j olts of the wheels are absorbed by these springs. Downward movements of the wheels or upward movements of the frame are cushioned against the lower springs D11 and 1I7 for the rear and front axles, respectively. Upward and downward movements of the rear forks oscillate the eccentrics B by means of their crank-arms B2, throwing the rear axle A10 away from and toward the crankhanger A6, serving automatically to hold the chain at a uniform tension.

I claim as my invention- 1. Inaspring-bearingfor bicycles and other vehicles, in combination,a supporting-frame; a wheel; an axle therefor; and'means comprising apivoted member, for connecting the wheel-axle to the frame, and for maintaining said axle at a constant distance from the driving-axle of the bicycle.

2. Inaspring-bearingforbicyclesandother vehicles, in combination, asupporting-frame; a wheel; an axle therefor; and means comprising a member having a pivotal engagement with the supporting-frame and a rigid connection with the wheel-axle, for maintaining said axle at a constant distance from the driving-axle of the bicycle.

3. In a spring-bearing for bicycles and other vehicles, in combination, a supporting-frame; a wheel; an axle therefor; and means comprising an eccentric pivotally mounted on the frame, for supporting the wheel-axle, and maintaining it ata constant distance from the driving-axle of the bicycle.

4.-. Inaspring-bearing forbicycles and other vehicles, in combination, a supporting-frame; an eccentric having a yielding connection with said frame; an axle mounted on said eccentric; and an arm fixed with relation to centric; and an arm fixed With relation to the eccentric and adapted to rotate the saine, said arm having a pivotal engagement with said supporting-frame.

6. In a spring-bearin g for bicycles and other vehicles, in combination, a supporting-frame; a bracket having a sliding connection with the supporting-frame; a spring interposed between the bracket and the frame; an eccentric rotatably mounted in said bracket; an axle mounted on said eccentric; an arm fixed with relation to the eccentric, said arm having an elongated opening therein; and a stud fixed with relation to said frame, adapted to enter the elongated opening in said arm, to move said arm and rotate said eccentric, and thereby move said axle to retain it in the arc of a circle having its center in the drivingaxle ofthe bicycle.

7. In aspring-bearing for bicycles and other vehicles, in combination, asupporting-frame; a bracket having a spring-casing; a spring for said casing, said supporting-frame resting upon said spring; an eccentric rotatably mounted in said bracket; an axle mounted on said eccentric; an arm formed integral with said eccentric, said arm having an elongated opening therein; and a stud fixed with relation to said frame, adapted to lie within the elongated opening in said arm, to rotate said eccentric, and to move said axle to retain it in the arc of a circle having its center in the driving-axle of the bicycle.

8. In a spring-bearing for bicycles and other vehicles, in combination, asupporting-frame; two brackets having oppositelyextending tubular spring-casings; two yokes for the supporting-frame, each yoke having a cap for inclosing each of said spring-casings; a spring for each of the casings; each of said brackets having a vertical guide-groove for its yoke; bearing-rollers in said grooves; an eccentric rotatably mounted in each of said brackets; an axle extending through both of said eccentrics; and an arm for each eccentric, having a pivotal engagement with the supporting-frame.

FRED L. KOEIILER.

Witnesses:

GEO. L. CHINDAHL, ERNEST WEHLAU.

ICO

IIO 

